Round 24: Inter and Napoli close the gap as Milan and Lazio stall again

Is the pressure getting to Milan? After today's 1-1 draw against Genoa and a huge win tonight for Inter over Roma at San Siro it may well be. Milan still sit three points clear of Napoli as things stand after a 1-1 draw in Genoa today but will now have to pick up their form if they are to weather this Inter and Napoli based storm. Alex Pato did set Milan off into what looked like would be a comfortable afternoon in Genoa today but Antonio Floro Flores equalised before half time to level things up and that's exactly how it finished as Milan drew their second game in succession.

At the same time Napoli were adding the finishing touches to another home win at the San Paolo with Edinson Cavani on target with his 18th Serie A goal of the season, whilst midfielder Sosa made it 2-0 against Cesena in the games dying embers. It was the sixth successive home game for Napoli in which they did not concede a goal as they push on towards the Serie A summit. It was not however such a good day for Lazio who could only draw at home to Chievo. An outstanding Hernanes free kick gave the Aquile the lead before half time but a defensive mix up led to Chievo equalising through Bosjan Cesar. Lazio created little afterwards and had to settle for the point. Lazio sit in fourth as things stand but have Udinese and Palermo breathing down their neck only two points behind after they both recorded strong wins against Sampdoria and Lecce respectively. 

Inter have also closed the gap after a highly entertaining 5-3 win over Roma tonight. Wesley Sneijder got things going with a stunning striker afte just 3 minutes and was instrumental in most of Inter's attacking play along with Douglas Maicon and Samuel Eto'o, who scored twice as well to bring home the three points. It was not all plain sailing however as Roma produced some superb attacking play, additionally scoring twice after they were reduced to ten men following former Inter player Nicolas Burdisso's dismissal. Inter move up to third and could close the gap at the top to just two points if they win their game in hand against Fiorentina on February 16th. However before that they must travel to play Juventus next week and AC Milan fans will be hoping that Inter drop points in that one.

Elsewhere Bari lost their 7th straight game in Serie A against Brescia 2-0 and they now are 7 points behind 19th placed Cesena and look set for the drop. Bologna however look set to avoid any battle for relegation this year as they now sit on 29 points after a 1-0 home win against Diego Simeone's Catania. Amauri finally found the net after almost a year for new club Parma against Fiorentina, but it finished all square with Gaetano D'Agostino providing Fiorentina with a valuable away point.

Juventus finally got back to winning ways with Alessandro Matri scoring twice against Cagliari in a 3-1 away win, just under a week after he left that very club during the January transfer window. It many ways it seemed inevitable that he would make that sort of impact.